Knee-pad.



. SUMMERS.

KNEE PAD, APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6. 19H.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET i.

Y P. 5. SUMMEBS.

KNEE PAD, APPLICATION FiLED FEB. 6' l?.

1,23*,24, 'Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TTORNEY,

PAUL SUMMERS, OF MAN GUM, OKLAHOMA.

KNEE-PAD.

Application filed February 6, 191'?.

To all whom imag concern:

Be it known that I, PAULA J. SUMMERS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mangum, in the county of Greer and State of Oklahoma, haveinvented certaln new and useful Improvements in Knee-Pads, of which thefollowing isa specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdraw- 1n s. 1

JThe invention pertains to improvements in knee pads, such as are usedby cotton pickers or others who work in a kneeling position.

An object of the invention is to provide a more comfortable device ofthis kind.

Another object is to provide ventilation for that part of the knee whichcomes in contact with the pad.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in theensuing description.

The accompanying drawings show one embodiment of the invention inpractice.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved knee pad.

Fig. 2 is a right-hand side elevation, showing the pad worn by a personin a kneeling position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, but with the person in a standin position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, but showingno parts in front of the line AA.

Like characters of reference like parts in all the igures.

In carrying out the objects stated, the improvedA device includes twoportions-a lower sheet-metal plate 5 adapted to rest didesignate rectlyin contact with the ground as a tread,

and an upper sheet-metal plate 6 which forms a seat for the knee and isin turn supported from the lower plate by resilient means.

The connection between the plates 5 and 6 should be such as to preventor limit relative lateral or fore-and-aft movement of the two, and inthe present instance the connection includes a hinge 7 or some suitableequivalent which joins the upturned front ends 8 and 9, respectively, ofthe two plates.

At points well back toward their rear ends, the two plates 5 and 6 areconnect- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

Serial N o. 146,921.

ed by compression springs 10, and these springs, taken with the limitedamount of resiliency in the upper plate 6 between said springs and thehinge 7, form a yielding and very comfortable support for the lmee.

To hold the springs 10 in place, the upper end of each rests in adepression 11 formed in the side edge of the upper plate 61 the uppercoil of the spring being caught under a strap-iron keeper 12 which isriveted to said plate.

The lower end of each spring 10 likewise rests in a similar depression13 formed in the edge of the lower plate 5, the lower coil vof thespring being caught under a strapiron keeper 14 which is secured to saidplate.

Each strap-iron keeper 14 of the lower plate 5 extends forward and formsa brace 15 to relieve bending strain on the curved front portion 16 ofsaid plate, the keeper and its brace formation being secured to theplate 5 by rivets 17.

As a further comfort, the upper plate 6 is cushioned with felt 18 orother suitable cushion material, which is held in place by rivets 19 orother approved means.

This pad 18 and the upper plate 6 are pro- I vided with registeringperforations 20'which allow free ventilation and keep said pad fromsweating or irritating the knee.

The spacing of the upper and lower plates 6 and 5 apart allows a betterand freer circulation of air through the Ventilating perforations 20than Acould be obtained if the upper plate 6 were in direct contact withthe ground.

To hold the device in place on the knee, the two separable sections 21and 22 of a wide strap 23 are secured to the side edges of the rear endof the upper plate 6, this strap being drawn around the calf of the legand buckled as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The strap 23, being of greatly increased width, does not severelyimpress itself into the flesh as a narrow strap, but forms a housingwhich holds the plate- 6 and pad 18 in place without interfering withblood circulation.

The front end of the pad is provided with a flexible Hap 24 which issecured to the front end of the upper plate 6 and projects upward; andthis flap 24 is in turn provided with a separable strap 25 which isdrawn around the lilnb above the knee and buckled as shown.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:-

l. In a device of the class described, a lower or tread plate, and asecond plate arranged over thetread plate, the two plates being held inspaced relation at their front ends by a hinge connection and at theirrear ends by compression springs, the upper plate being padded to form asupport Jfor the knee, said upperplate and the padding bea ingperforated for purposes of ventilation, and means carried by the upperplate for securing it in place on the knee.

2; Ina device of the class described, a lower or tread plate, and asecond plate arranged above the tread plate, the two plates being heldin spaced relation at their front ends by a hinge connection and attheirrear ends by compression springs, thatportion of the upper plate betweensaid springs and hinge. connection being resilient.

3. In a device ofy the class described, a lower or tread plate, and asecond plate arranged above the tread plate, the two plates being.Vheldy in spaced relation at their front ends by a hinge connection andat their rear ends by compression springs, a flexible Hap extendingupward from the front or hinge end of theupperp'late; astrap carried* bythe upper end of said flap' for embracingfthe leg above the knee, andlmeans' carried" by the rear endll ot saidfupper'plate for-"embracingtheleg-below the knee: l

Witness my' hand this 2nd' day of" Feb` ruary; 1917.

Copies of this patent may be obtained' for ve cents each,` by addressingth'womm'issioner `of Patents;

Washington, D; 0."

